Closure, operating, and controlling device



Nov. 3, 1953 R. cRow 2,657,925

CLOSURE, OPERATING, AND CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1946 4 SheetsSheet 1 my. 1. l2

REC TOR CROW ATTORNEY NOV. 3, 1953 c ow CLOSURE, OPERATING, AND CONTROLLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1946 REC TOR CROW INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1953 R. CROW 2,657,9 5

CLOSURE, OPERATING, AND CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 REC TOR CR mv NIOR.

BY ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1953 R. CROW ,657,

CLOSURE, OPERATING, AND CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 9.

REC TOR CROW IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Rector Crow, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,494

8 Claims.

. vMy invention relates to a device for regulating movable objects such as doors, the closures of windows, etc, this regulating consisting of moving the object to a desired position and maintaining or locking it in such desired position.

-,Although the invention is useful in conjunction with, many different types of movable objects, it is of especial, utility as a means forregulating thepositions of closures in windows of automobiles and other vehicles. At the present time, most automobile doors are provided with cranks as means for raising and lowering the Window closures, it being ordinarily necessary to rotate the crank'through several complete revolutions in order to move the closure from one extreme position to the other. It is an object of my invention to provide a means whereby the closure may be actuated from one position to another simply by small movement of a control lever or handle, thereby avoiding the necessity of turning acrank in order to move the closure. It isan object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph having means for restraining movement of the closure or movable object, which restraining means is automatically released as the result of the initial movement of the operating handle. a a

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel means for counterbalancing the forces tending to move the movable object or closure, this counterbalancing means being so formed that when the operating handle of the device is moved for the purpose of adjusting the by counterbalanced forces are normally applied to the movable object so that the object is held stationary and having means for incurring unbalanced forces which will result in movement of the object from one positionto another position in response to relatively. small movement of a control or actuating handle. a a

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having a novel means for applying a force to the movable object, either I ftive'form of my linkage mechanism. a

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph having means for changing'the force exerted by the spring so as to unbalance the forcesacting upon the movable object, this means for changing the force exerted by the spring being operated by relatively small movement of the actuating handle of the device. It is a further object of the invention to provide a regulator of this character having anovel spring arrangement for producing a counterbalancing of force and novel means for varying the degree or effect of the counterbalancing force so as to accomplish movement of a movable object, and it is a further object to provide in the device a means for locking the linkage mechanism and also a release for this locking means which operates automatically in response to initial movement of the actuating handle of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure operating mechanism which may be made up as a unit and which may be installed in an automobile door or other similar wall cavity below a window through an opening of the wall cavity which is covered bythe window sill. A further object of the invention is to provide a. novel means for holding the window'closure so that it cannot rattle, this holding means being releasable so as to remove practically all friction from the closure so that the height of the closure may be adjusted with minimum application'of force.

Further objects and advantages of] the invention may be brought out in the following part of the specification. Referring to the drawings'which are for illustrative purposes only, I f 1 is a face view of a form ofmy inven- -tionshown with the cover plate or panel removed soas to disclose theoperating mechanism. 7

Fig: 2 is a rear face view of the upper portion of the operatingmechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.,

Fig; 4 is a' fragmentary. sectional view'taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. a Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. I v

-Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as'indicated by the line 6-6of Fig. 3.

taken Fig. 7'is aschematic view; showing analt'erna- Fig. 8 is aschematic view showing the manner ,in which the opposing forces utilized'byi'theinention are incurred by mechanical means.

devices Fig. 9 is a schematic elevational view showing an alternative form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing an eccentric means for unbalancing the counterbalanced forces.

In Fig. 1 I show a frame H) which, in one practice of the invention, may be the frame of an automobile door. This frame II has vertical members II, the upper portions of which cooperate with a header 12 to provide a window opening 13. The side members ll carry channel guides H which receive theuiges o! a desire 18 consisting in the present instance of a pane d glass adapted to be moved from a raised position in which it fully closes the openin 13 too. low

ered position wherein the window M 13' will be unobstructed by the closure l5. In Rig. 1 the closure is shown in an intermediate osition.

The closure 18 is controlled and regulated or operated by a window operating mechanism M which resides in the chamber 16 whichoccupics that portion of the frame ill below the window opening 13. Ihe mechanism M is carried 'by'a frame structure 11 which 'inciudesa cross bar 18, avertical bar 1'! and a diagonal-bar 20 connected in the manner shown. The ends of the crossbar n are received in the clips 21 mounted on the inner face or the sidebars H below the lower 'inarginofthewmdow opening '13. Near-the cen- 'ter of the cross bar IS a sheave 22 "is suppomd onapin 23. A composite sheave'member is supported'on the upper portion of the diagonal bar II by means of a bolt '25, and an idler sheave 26 is mounted near the lower'end of the vertical bar ll'by shaft means'll.

in Figs. 1 andLthe composite sheave member 24 comprises a circular sheave "Z8 dis posed concentrically to the axis of thebearing bolt 25, and a spirallshe'a've '29 which is disposed 'eocentrically as shown inFig. 1, this spiral sheave I] being of a form and having a purpose which win he hereinafter described. For convenience, I have shown the sheaves '28 and 2B integrally formed in a single structure referred to as the composite sheave member .2].

1 portion of the periphery of composite sheave member 21 has extended teeth 30 definingnotches L31 adapted tohe engaged by locking moanscomprising a dog 32 carried at one end of a loking'lever 33, which is pivotally supported qnthediagonai barlll above the bolt 25 by'a'bolt ll. Aspring 35 urges the rightward end of the lever 33, Fig. 1, downward to produce engagemcntef the deg-32 with anotch 34. The-opposite, or leftward end, of the lever is-emcgqi wmrod which extends-to a-dashapet 31 which, when the mhtwardend of the lever N is raised agalnst'the-f'orce of the spring, will'retard clockwise rotation of *the newer 88 to delay reengage ment of the dog 32 with the "composite sheave would.

As will be'pcrceived from Figs. '2 :and'lgthe m Ieompr ises'a flat plate a'nd'a dog 32 consists of a plate portion 38 bent at right angles *4!) thread -of the lever '33. The upper part of theplate portion 'sdisben't into'a nearly horizontai position toprovide a wall ls'through'which the lower portion of a pull rod .0 may extend, this pull rod having on its lower end a stop, in

the form of a nut 11 adapted to engage the mfa'ce oi :the wall -portion 39 when the .pull rod ii is lifted. thereby the rightward end ofthe lever 'npFlg. i, to remove the dog 4 from engagement with a notch ii of the compo site sheave member 24.

The upper end of the pull rod 40 has thereon a loop 42 which engages a loop 43 secured to the lower face of a horizontal detent bar 44 which is connected by hinges 45 to the upper edge of the horizontal bar I8 of the frame structure l'l. Whm the pull bar I. h bw'trod as flown in Fig. 4, the detent bar n resides in a nearly horizontal position, and a cushion 46 on the outer "edge thereof engages the surface of the closure I so u to bind the closure IS in the guide channels I l and thereby frictionally hold the closure 15 and prevent rattling thereof. The detent bar I! is swung upwardly from the detaining 'pdtinhwhlnhls shown inFig. 3 and Fig. 4

a by a thrust bar 41, which has at its upper end a loop '18 engaging a. loop I! which is secured to the under face of the detent bar 44 at the oppo- "Iltebhd of the bit I from the loop a, tnfl'gl The mean bar I! emxdldm through a tongue III which projects from it:

: portion 53 atthe upper edge of the vertical poris swung upmrdiy around the pivot meal as indicated by aimed lines "a in 15g. 2 ton'gue an thereof will 8118080 a nut $5 on thrust bar ll andm'ove the must bar a ward,'this-movoment being 'tr "premier-portion IF! of 'a cammember so, which camunember "fla comprises a lm- 'portion' 5a wm lies under the {flange 53 'of the detent releasing iever'dlas-shownin'ligs. "2, 8,2116. 6. Thesinmk 5'l extends from this bar portion "59 "through an opening in the rocker m 96 and through an "opening 60 "in the 'web oft'he "vertical bar 1'9, and

is turna'ble in *such'openingfl. The can: meniher "98 has a 'ncnci rcuia'r-openhig H, such, for example, as square, which extends thrmrgh'fire sham; portion 53 and isadaptedto receive the 62 nf'a handle 6'8. when the stem I! is inserted in the-opening c! the handieilt may-be so as ito impa'rt rotationto the cam mem- 88 "toswnig this1nember It independently a! therocker arm sawumfimmmm or move '1 ment.

As shown 2 'andB, the bar-portion I! of the cam 58 has a'longendiflan'd ashortend on opposite sides nf'the axis of rotation 'pro- 'vided by :the shank portion '88, the short end I! of the bar portionfllil extending toward the pivot 34 on which the detent releasing lever 5| -is "swung. Viewing thelever SI as shown in'FigJ,

itthe handle isrotatedso as to causethe long end 54 of the bar..,;:uirtionTi! miswing upward 'as indicated by aw some .tsuch languid ll will swing the lever 5| upward until its free end 5 engages a stop '66 which projects fromthe, end 01' the rocker arm 56 opposite the endthereof carrying the pivot means 54. Likewise, a rotation of the handle 63 so as to rotate the short end 65 of the .bar portion 59 upward, will cause such short end 65 to engage the flange 630i the lever 5| and swing the same upwardly into engagement with the stop 66. When the stop is engaged by the lever 5|, the rotation of th handle 63 will be transmitted through the bar portion 59 and the lever 5| to the rocker arm 56, to cause the rocker arm 56 to swing in desired direction. However, rotation of the rocker arm 56 will not be produceduntil the lever 5| is raised and the horizontal detent bar 44 swung upward into releasing position, and the dog 32 lifted from a notch 3|, in accordance with the previously described result of the upward swinging of the detent releasing lever 5|.

As shown in Fig. l and Fig. 4, a metal clipBB provides a means for connecting the lower end 69 of a cable 76 to the lower edge of the closure l5. This cable H3 extends substantially vertically upwardly and over the idler sheave 22, and the remaining portion H of the cable 10 extends to and around the circular sheave member 28 of the composite sheave member 24, the cable 70 being attached to the sheave 28 by an attaching means 12. A second cable 13 has one end thereof attached at 14 to the spiral sheave 29, and from the attachment 14, the cable 13 is extended around the sheave 29 to the sheave 26 situated at the lower end of the vertical bar IS. The opposite end of the cable 13 is attached to the lower end 15 of a tension spring 16, the upper end ll of this spring 16 being connected to the leftward end of the rocker arm 56, Fig. 1. The opposite, or rightward, end of the rocker arm 56 is con nected to the upper end 18 of 'a tension spring 19, the lower end 80 of which is connected to the lower portion of the vertical bar I9. Since the rocker arm 56 is pivoted around its center, the springs 16 and 19 will be under equal tension when the device is in a static condition-that is to say, when no rotative force is applied to the handle 63. v

The weight of the closure |5 is-carried by the cable 16 which applies a constant torque to the circular sheave member 28. This torque from the tension in the cable 10 is counterbalanced by the torqu resulting from the tension in the cable 13. Since the tension in this cable 13 is derived from the spring 16, it increases and decreases as the spring 16 is extended or contracted. Accordingly, theradius of the spiral sheave member 29 increases as the spring 16 contracts so that the tension exerted'on the cable is decreased,

and decreases as the cable 13 isextende'd, the

result being that the torque applied by the cable 13 to the compositesheave'me'mber 24, expressed as the productof cable tension multiplied by'the lever armor radius of the-spiral sheave member --'in' all difierentpositions thereof, is a constant arm 56-the rocker -arm-56 will float-between-the v upper ends 11 and 18 ofthe springs 16 and 19,

'6 and have an angular or transverse" position with relation to the vertical bar I!) which will result in equal tension to the springs 16 and 19. These springs 16 and 19 may be regarded as two divisions of a single spring element, with the rocker arm 56 as an intermediate connecting means .which enables the springs 16 and 19 to be placed in substantially side byside relation instead of in alignment. Through the medium of the rocker arm 56, the force of spring section 19 is applied to the upper end of spring 16, the force of which is transmitted through the cable 13 to the sheave 29. The handle 63 operating through the cross bar 56 provides a means for varying the tension in that portion of the spring system which is connected to the cable 13, thereby varying the tension in the cable 13, with the ultimate efiect of unbalancing the opposed torques applied to the composite sheave member 24. This unbalancing of the torques applied to the sheave member 24 will result in its rotation in a direction corresponding to the direction of the greatest torque and this rotation will result in raising or lowering of the closure I5. Accordingly, if the rocker arm 55, as viewed in Fig. 1, is rotated in clockwise direction, the tension in the spring 16 will be increased and the increased tension applied through the cable 13 to the spiral sheave member 29 will result in an increase in the clockwise torque applied to the composite sheave member 2 1 over and above the value of the counterclockwise torque applied thereto by the cable 10, and the composite sheave member 24 will be rotated in clockwise direction to move the closure |5 upward. The opposite condition will occur when the rocker arm 56 isrotatedin counterclockwise direction. There will be a decrease in the tension in the spring 16 and a. rotation ofthe composite sheave member 24 which will accomplish a lowering of the closure |5. However, the actuating means represented by-the handle 63 cannot be utilized to unbalance the torques'applied to, the composite sheave member 24 unless it shall have first released the restraining means of the invention. In explanation of this, we may refer to the previous description-herein of the manner in which the rotation of the handle 63 from an inoperative position flrst swings the lever 5|, Fig. 2,

upward and into the dotted line position 54a thereof, and thereafter rotates the rocker arm 56. In the foregoing I have used the termfrestraining means as including either or both the frictional detent bar 44 andthe locking dog 32 and associated parts.

' A feature of the invention is to provide a means for positively locking the linkage mechanism which acts to transmit-the force of the spring 16 to the closure l5, such linkage mechanism consisting of the composite sheave member 24 and the cables, 10 and 13.. This locking means which includes the dog .32 prevents movement of the closure |5 as :the resultof the bouncing'movement of the vehicle when it travels over arough or uneven surface. In the disclosure I have shown the cables 16 and .13 attached respectively to, the circular and spiral sheaves 28 and 29. This connection maybe'reversed in the practice of,the invention. That is to say, the cabl 10 :may be connected. to a spiral sheave'and the spring 16 may be connected to a circular sheave of acomposite sheave arrangement, if the circular andspiral'sheaves are properly arranged andsprings of properlength and'strength' are provided. In explanation of this I have in Fig.7 :shown 1 schematically the attachment of a cable ecu-ms I to e mle m ith h *9 I t e!!! she 1 'A m ee ew ies sheave assembly a torque which increases as spl e "i" d s $0 m of the cable N the sheave 29 is made of increasing radius in eloek'wise direction, so thet as the force exerted bythespring -10 gradneliy increases, the lever arm will -sradue-lly increase, thereby providing a means whereby a constant tension in the cable "I. will produce an ni e to o erb e h mem ing torque resulting iron the elongation of the spring It.

In the form of the invention shown inFig. =1, the movable member disclosed-as a window glass il is associated with for incurring opposin; forces therein. The means provided for causing a force :to act downwardly on the movable "consists-e; theverticel guides which support the-movable member ii so that gravity meyect therein to incur e. downward force. 0;:- posing this'downward force of gravity 1! we heve -an upward ioree resulting from the tension in the spring element eomprlsing springs "and It,

such-ceunterbalenoingfiorcebeingtransmitted to the movable member ti by the linkage mechenismeonsisting of the composite sheave member and the cables and. In theformpf the invention schematically shown in Fig. 8, means we provided for applying or incurring iorees in apposite-directions wherebya movable member schematically-shown as the part 150 will be held stationary whentheierces ere-in balance-oi; will in moved when theiorees ere uhbaleneed. -I have shown the g connected by e eable'fla-to-e linkegett'oithe-same ehmeter-as employed in l'ig. 1, and accordingly I have applied thereto the same numerals es previously-employed.

Aaesond cable "a 'eonnects the movable membei' Me with azpinal sheave or pulley flto-which -a counterclockwise force is applied by e aspire! ertorsionspringli. 'ltwill be-pereeived 'thet arthesheaveli is rotated-in clookwisedisection, the eileetiveradius-thereotwilldecreese "nsithememion m-mhe-sprkigwl increases. The sompollteishcavemember l4 and the springs =1 and H are eo proportioned that aoonstant eountetbalaneing tension will be exerted in the oable Jim-Ito counterbalance the-tension in-the 1h. IWhen-the roeker' arn" isrotated-ineloekwise direetiomthespiingfllwill-be elongated and :thc increasedtensiie force exerted thereby --wiil cause the sheave member 24 torotate-in--eieek- Ilse direction, since the tension in the oable 13a is now in cxeeseof the tension which the spring 8- is-capable ofapifly s'to theoabie'lla. Accordingly; the rotation :ofthe eompolite. sneavemember 24 :will wind in the-oeble :lla .andmove the movablemember I64 in lettward direction untihheencees tension is released 4mm thespring whereupomtheforce exert- ;iiuxmeansil andrvlliwiil resume their balanced areietionship-andthemovablemember ilswill remain stationary. A counterclockwise rotation .the rocker arm? will-reducethe-tensionln the urine "16pm: that the i system be unbalanced lit! the oppnsite-directionirom that-described 4n :the receding iexpianntien, whereuponxthe spring :8. mtntto more the member! a rightwardb.

ana mia s treemmtiotzuiemem I itisdeslredtoehanaeihpelitiel fllmil figillhaveshewnmeasotthepartsweviouly and described. eemblned with no pertsso as to produce new elects. For example. the-rocker arm 58, in the term 0! the invention showninmfl, n eonnected'by iinkesemewfl witha-lniralpulleyt I. which is connected threulh a cable M with the closure II, whereby movement oil-the actuating handle a is mnsmitteddire t y thnough the rocker arm it. after release 0! the restraining means endithmugh the linkage II and .tbeoabie 82 to the closure .15, thereby nrodiwinl' movement of the closure 15 in a positive manner. as the result of adding or subtractin e tome fipfime .01 moving the count rbalanced .clceure in Fig. 9 the lioliisimtal notional .detent be! .41. aetueted' v a thrust rod 4]. in the manner described with relation tom. 3. 119815! rishtweifd :endextended as shown at M where it :18 .09 neeted by means at. .a link 03 with a ert eeily eh ltablezbarli. Timber is connect d o th beater of a plurality o1 t ssl memb s 0 th lettwerd ends 0! which are onn t d to e channel .16 which suniiorts the rightward ed ed th closure 65, the leftward eds o th wholes-suppo able s ationery z d channe H. 'flihe he e l isme ebl s p er-M seve al Pin .91 width ar sl da le in openins vte med i he e tise t em member inire E1119! 1! is tumble .ueone ete- --ti n.er sha 1 t n iqh th imm sed pie @0 s rin s ttached. the ter d i his smineke esflwe u ehunk? valley m s t exer .a to rn e ti 2 I in Th linka 90..ipr i-be roc er em lI-t 't pu le 109W -e s w th meme ein t e n w em -5 a sc seameet Lfl Q .be9 l er: L-eed s ink it Q mHee -Pi wvelm F w lev iin mm P .8 ien ieeeesins Wis s ailmen i"- ret- -.te d w;lh ew H 9? M i 8521M 8m mmww fi il le fl i wwe ed to be engaged by a latch 32, to lock flier my :8! rotation.

n h veiiiv i i-iiii 2I-fih i i liq i We n Fla- 9- .the nitia i 'e .nt 1 .l ndle it! vani he elevieeslwee rihed meinimitate .mfinber-M threeseuwetd Wiesel ith: .redifl, flnwfldm wmet 9 i l eel i n ll 9 1" in Bl the i ckins membe iremieesesem et with a new: H0- iathersb 99. 1%; J-

th iii wdm e et-et he WQ 'MJ t m- ,mitte woven -the l in v rticall sh eh hfl i "f 'h tlliwflflme emeetil tbi Mnflsfllem m nial! J! wime tbeyi fl -a.:tm P hi-meveh es iee channels" aw tzomthel i smwee em 9 1M m en -i-1 -e:sw;e-e 1es ss;l i1 d sp s d m .wmrs rans i te t ots th :leve ztl; team ocker sum it e The movement Highe -emit birt s lever 68 results ins swins ml o th l ver; an a s ittinswoi the 4N se he? iifll'e lil he, smi ed thr w the rack I08 to the gear segment I06 to rents the isee qscs i m M in direction. minis Rename-invention th men: the cinema ii v:1 wte be emed limbs. tome. at the. mine 1M iueiemeai 9G losu e 15 is a balancing effect of the spring I02 employed in conjunction with the spiral pulley 9 I. The transmission of movement from the lever 63 to the spiral pulley SM is direct and proportionate in view of the employment of the linkage 90. Therefore, the closure I may be accurately adjusted to any desired position within its range of movement in the window.

In the mechanism diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, the unbalancing of the forces is accomplished by rotation of an eccentric I21 which is mounted on an axle or pivot I28. A lever I29 extends from the eccentric I2'I whereby this eccentric may be rotated in either direction. A composite pulley member consisting of a circular pulley I23 and a spiral pulley I22 is rotatable on the eccentric I21. A cable I2I extends from the spiral pulley I22 to a variable force exerting means shown as a spring I20, and a cable I24 extends from the circular pulley I23 over a sheave to a constant force exerting means shown as a weight I26. When the composite pulley assembly is shifted by rotation of the eccentric I2'I, the forces acting in opposite directions in the mechanism will be unbalanced and movement of the weight I26 will result until balance is reestablished.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an adjusting device for a movable member disposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurring normally counterbalanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring means having a pair of spring sections joined by connecting means so that the force of one of said spring sections is transmitted to the other of said spring sections and aleverage mechanism whereby the varying force of said spring means is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing force; means for restraining movement of said movable member in at least one of its directions of movement; an actuating member having, in response to motivating effect applied thereto, an initial movement and a succeeding movement; means operating in response to said initial movement of said actuating member to release said restraining means; and means connecting said actuating member and said connecting means operating in response to the succeeding movement of said actuating member for applying movement to said connecting means to change the force of said spring means and cause movement of said movable member.

2. In an adjusting device for a movable member disposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of means for incurring normally counterbalanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring means having a pair of spring sections joined by connecting means so that the force of one of said spring sections is transmitted to the other oi. said spring sections and a leverage mechanism, whereby the varying force of said spring means is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing force; an actuating member adapted to be moved in response to a motivating effect applied thereto; and means connecting said actuating member and said connecting means responding to movement of said actuating member for applying movement to said connecting means to change the force exerted by said spring means and cause movement of said movable member.

3. In an adjusting device for a movable mema 10 ber disposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurring normally counterbalanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring, a composite sheave means including two sheave members, at least-one of which is spiral, lines connecting said sheave members respectively to said spring and to said movable member, whereby the varying force of said spring is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing force; means for restraining movement of said movable member in at least one of its directions of movement; an actuating member arranged so as to have, in response to motivating effect applied thereto, an initial movement and a succeeding movement; means operating in response to said initial movement of said actuating member to release said restraining means; and means con- I movable member.

41.. In an adjusting device for a movable member disposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurring normally counterbalanced forces to hold said 1 member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring, a composite sheave means including two sheave members, at least one of which is spiral, lines connecting said sheave members respectively to said spring and to said movable member, whereby the varying force of said spring is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing force; an actuating member adapted to be moved in response to a motivating efi'ect applied thereto;

, and means connecting said actuating member and said spring responding to movement and in all positions thereof of said actuating member to change the force exerted by said spring and cause movement of said movable member.

-5. In an adjusting device for amovable member disposed so as tobe moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurring normally counterbalanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring element, a composite sheave means including two members, at least one of which is spiral, lines connecting said sheave members respectively to said spring element and to said movable member, whereby the varying force of said s ring element is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing force; means for restraining movement of said movable member in at least one of its directions of movement; an actuating member having, in response to motivating effect applied thereto, an initial movement and a succeeding movement; means operating in response to said initial movement of said actuating member to release said restraining means; and means connecting said actuating member and said spring operating in response to the succeeding movement of said actuating member for applying movement to an intermediate portion of said spring element to change the force of said spring element and cause movement of said movable member.

6. In an adjusting device for a movable member disposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurring normally counter-balanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring element, a composite sheave means including two sheave members, at least one of which is spiral, lines connecting said sheave members respectively to said spring element and to said movable member, whereby the varying iorce of said spring element is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing force; an actuating member adapted to be moved in response to a motivating eiiect applied thereto; and means connecting said actuating member and said spring responding to movement of said actuating member for applying movement to an intermediate portion or said spring element to change the iorce exerted by said spring element and cause movement of said movable member.

7. In an adjusting device for a movable member disposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurrin normally counterbalanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring, a composite sheave means including two sheave members, at least one of which is spiral, lines connecting said sheave members respectively to said spring and to said movable member, whereby the varying force of said spring is converted to a substantially constant coimterbalancing iorce; means for locking said composite sheave means; an actuating member having, in response to mtivating effect applied thereto, an initial movement and a succeed-movement; means operating in, response to said initial movement of said actuating member to release said locking means; and means connecting said actuating member and said spring operating in response to the succeeding movement of said actuating member to change the force of said spring and cause movement of said movable member.

Y 8. In an adjusting device for a movable memberdisposed so as to be moved in opposite directions, the combination of: means for incurring normally counterbalanced forces to hold said member stationary in all of its positions, at least one of said means comprising a spring means having a pair of spring sections joined by con- 12 necting means so that the iorce of one oi said spring sections is transmitted to the other of said spring sections, a composite sheave means including two sheave members, at least one of which is spiral, lines connecting said sheave members respectively to said spring means and to said movable member, whereby the varying force of said spring element is converted to a substantially constant counterbalancing iorce; means for locking said composite sheave means; an actuating member having, in response to motivating eilect applied thereto, an initial movement and a succeeding movement; means operating in response to said initial movement of said actuating member to release said locking means; and means connecting said actuating member and said connecting means operating in response to the succeeeding movement of said actuating member for applying movement to said connecting means to change the force or said spring means and cause movement oi said movable member.

RECTOR CROW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 975,507 Bundy Nov. 15, 1910 1,659,891 Nicholson Feb. 21, 1928 1,851,879 Thomas Mar. 29, 1932 1,923,459 Riblet Aug. 22, 1933 1,989,964 Beckler Feb. 5, 1935 2,045,195 Mays June 3, 1938 2,076,938 Chandler Apr. 13, 1937 2,089,712 Rowe et al. Aug. 10, 1937 2,114,235 Page Apr. 12, 1938 2,127,376 Purdy Aug. 16, 1938 1,135,196 Nicholson Nov. 1, 1938 2,198,751 Young Apr. 30, 1940 2,261,482 Myers Nov. 4, 1 1

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 506,558 Great Britain May 31, 1939 530,489 France Oct. 3, 1931 

